Teo asked What's your onion on legally changing your …

It's not uncommon for people to hyphenate their names after marriage or in the case of Jewish men, take on the other's family name. I don't mind changing mine or someone else changing theirs.

Alice 💋 · 5y

I've always thought it's rather lopsided and one of the clearest signs that we live in an unfairly patriarchal society (given that it's always the female in the relationship who changes her last name to the male's). And changing your last name must be a very inconvenient thing to do, since so many things have to be updated.. If I married and my wife wanted to keep her last name I would be okay with that.

inhahe · 5y

I’ve never changed or added my spouse’s last name. Our children are hyphenated. No reason other than I don’t want to. It should be a personal decision.

LaDamaX · 5y

Typically the woman takes her husband’s name when they marry. I think it’s better for a couple to both have the same surname, especially when they have children, so they share a family name. I know my best friend (who had a child with her husband before they were married) really didn’t like her son having a different surname to hers, and that was one of the reasons they did get married. I’m not fussed whose name they take. It could be either - whoever’s sounds better. But I’m not a fan of double-barrelled names. Some of them are ridiculous - too long, they don’t really go together, they don’t flow. If both people feel strongly about it they could make up a totally new name, then both of them are making the same sacrifice. But, if your name is well-known in a business/work field, I wouldn’t change it.

Penelope · 5y

I would. Also it's common place over here to take the man's name, but I think it's nice to take the bride's name too.
Some people compound their names together but that's basically fencesitting resulting in a dumber name usually, don't like that.

#4001 · 5y

I'm not especially keen on bearing this name, so when I would feel my wife's name were more pretty or better fitting I would probably switch. For women it is the norm to acquire the name of the husband. Women are not important, it is only important that male heirs are born. LOL

Kate Matsuda · 5y

Do whatever you like - for me it wouldn't be a huge deal if my wife didn't take my name, particularly if we're not going to have kids. It's a small bit of symbolism is all

Sean ⚡🤖 · 5y

I wouldn't do it, nor would I expect my wife to do it for me. Just care for me like I will you is all I ask.

Teo · 8 answers · 5y